Security forces in Kyrgyzstan have detained at least 10 people suspected of planning terrorist attacks in the run-up to presidential elections.
Kyrgyz authorities said Monday the arrests were carried out in security sweeps across several towns in the volatile south of the Central Asian republic in recent days.
During the operation, police reported killing a suspected radical Saturday after he tried to elude capture by hijacking a minibus with 15 people aboard. He forced the driver at gunpoint to take the minibus to the city of Osh, where he was killed by snipers at a roadblock.
The man was identified as a member of the Islamic Jihad Union, a banned group listed as a terror organization by the U.S. State Department.
Kyrgyzstan is preparing for October 30 presidential elections.